After call to order and opening ceremonies roll call was taken with all members present except Rosie Goss. Someone is the good seats said she hurt her leg. Hope you're doing better Rosie. The mayor got back to business after coming off medical leave. He appears to be fit and probably feeling better after his surgery.
While we're on the subject of medical things it was reported that Don Brown will be missing in action for awhile. He's going to have knee replacement surgery next week. He had the other one done last year. Good luck with the surgery Don and we hope you'll be back in action soon.
Under Public Speaking "Angel" Sharon Buswell of the Alley Cat Aid Brigade approached council for funding for their upcoming Trap-Neuter-Release program. She had an informational display of spots where they trapped cats last year. Last year the angels handled 76 cats. Out of that number 58 were neutered, five were put down and 13 were taken to the Cat Ladies Society in Youngstown for adoption. Ms Buswell asked that council consider budgeting $1,500 for this program for the next three years. She said three years is needed to make a noticeable difference in getting an upper hand with the feral cats in the village. In response Tony Cataldo advised that the budget is done on an annual basis and there is $1,000 in this years budget for the program. Sharon went on to advise they have several fun fund raisers planned to help with the cause. Stay tuned with their web site at http://www.alleycataidbrigade.com/ for more news on that. This is the group that conducts the increasingly popular monthly pet food give away.
The only administrator present to give a report was Jim Saracco. He reported the roof for the salt storage shed pictured above is now in place. The salt you see in there is probably it for the year. Hopefully we won't be needing it but now it won't be washed away with rain. With any luck we'll have it to start out next winter.
In the Mayor's Report Joe Surace thanked John McMahon for filling in for him doing his absence. Surace also advised us that the sign between the Rt. 45 exit ramp and Rt. 7 also pictured above has to be relocated in accordance of ODOT mandates. It is on ODOT land and they consider it to be a safety hazard. Joe said they pleaded our case but the ODOT people wouldn't bend. The sign has to go. That sign has been up there for years. Wonder what got them to get a wild hair after all this time? Randy Allmon said the Chamber-of-Commerce has already gotten folks lined up to relocate it down by the Industrial Park outside the ODOT fence.
I was a little taken aback by the headline on the article in the ER. It said in bold letters "No longer welcomed in Wellsville". To me that is cheap sensationalism that casts a negative light on the ville. That headline was very misgiving on the subject. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The same article appeared in the MJ and they got it right. They said "ODOT decision on sign not welcome in Wellsville". You're still welcome in the ville in spite of ODOT. We're just not excited about having to move the sign.
Under Committee Reports other than announcing a couple of Committee Meetings Chairman Joe Soldano of the Streets, Light & Parking reminded Saracco we had to get moving on this years chip & seal program. There's a deadline to get on the wish list over in Lisbon. That program is handled through the County Engineer's Office for the whole county. As a foot note both Surace & Saracco traveled to Lisbon on Thursday for just that purpose.
Under Legislation a vote was taken under suspension of rules for the village to participate once again with ODOT for salt for next winter. ODOT purchases salt for anyone participating for the whole state. Because of the volume being bought it is probably the best price available. I just hope ODOT doesn't pull another fast one like they did this year when they told many communities that their allotment was less than what was agreed on.
Under New Business Leslie Dean, our new Animal Control Officer, presented a report on her activities for the first month on the job. She handled 30 calls for that time period. Out of that 30, 12 dogs were brought to the village pound, 11 were transferred to the county pound and two were returned to their owners. She related that a big problem she faces is that reports for stray dogs that aren't around when she gets to the scene. She asks if possible if people that call in can confine the animal until she gets there it would help eliminate this problem.
Joe Surace reported that to date there has been $36,413 dollars collected in unpaid back fines. This amount covers 15 months of efforts by the clerk that was hired for this job. That is probably money we would never have seen if Jen Allen hadn't been on the job. Jen still has her work cut out for her. There is still $59,761 outstanding in back fines.
Joe Soldano reported that Wellsville School Board President Tom Brophey is to be honored with an Award of Achievement March 18 in Youngstown by the Ohio School Board Association for his 16 years of service. He is one of 74 recipients out of 3,400 nominated across the state for this honor. At the age of 29 Tom was the youngest member ever to elected to the School Board in the ville. In his spare time Brophey also serves as chairman of the Hammond's Park Committee.
Congratulations Tom...
Before adjoining Council retired to the Caucus room for back-to-back executive sessions to consider bids for health insurance and a "possible discipline" matter. According to newspaper reports they didn't have anything to say when they got back to Chambers. In that report it was noted that Tony Cataldo told the reporter that there is a possible chance for the village to save $8,400 yearly in health, vision & dental insurance. They received seven bids on proposals for insurance. This matter was referred to the Personnel Committee and although not mentioned I imagine they will have to negotiate with the union for whatever changes is being considered.
Here comes the 'Plus" part mentioned in the title. There were two committee meetings held this past Thursday. One was covered by the newspaper and I got to the later one. The first was for Property and had to deal mainly with the grant being filed for the play ground equipment with the Ohio Nature Works. It seems whatever is rewarded to the ville is now all going for the 18th play ground. Don Brown objected saying there are other areas in town that need to be considered but Tony Cataldo said 18th St. was the only one applied for. At the last meeting on this matter one councilman said money also would be going to the 11th Street play ground from this grant. What happened between then & now? Although 18th St. is heavily used I have to agree with Brown. Its was also decided to draw up an ordinance to change the hours at 18th St. to dawn to dusk instead of the current 9 A.M. - 9 P.M. In an unrelated matter Cataldo said he was waiting for a letter from the water district on what needs to be done with the dam at the old reservoir. That's in preparation to returning that property back over to the village.
The second meeting was with the Sewage Committee and was conducted with Randy Allmon flying solo. The purpose of this meeting was to go over contract language with United Water and our village solicitor. United Water is the new company that took over Earth Tech operating our sewage plant. Kevin Chandler, Director of Contract Services for the mid-west region, represented UW along with Greg Stewart, the plant operator in town. Except for one matter all items were resolved. It really boiled down to understanding the wording. The one exception was deemed a legal matter and Andy Beech is going to have a telephone conference with UW Legal Dept. to resolve that. That has to deal with liability insurance and who is responsible for what. The village still owns the plant which includes land and buildings. Right now the contract to operate the plant is on a month-to-month basis until they can get everything ironed out for the new five year contract. That contract will cost the village over $20,000 a month.
That brings you up to date on all the village government news I have. The next council meeting is March 17. It's also St. Patrick Day. Wear your green.
ole nib
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